arise from them have not wholly disappeared, there is now
a reasonable assurance that the peace of the world will not be imperilled. It would appear that the German Note was " characterised by exquisite politeness of form," and that though it insisted on a Conference being held in regard to the whole Moroccan question, it did not present the demand in a form which obliged rejection by France. It is there- fore probable that the French will agree to the Conference, though they will insist on receiving verbal assurances as to the nature of the problems to be discussed. As to our action in the matter there can only be one opinion. We must stand by France. Needless to say, this does not mean that we must only stand by her if she cannot agree to the German proposals, but also if she finds it possible to agree. We must not put pressure on France to agree because such action would be more convenient for us ; but, again, we must not give any one the slightest excuse for saying that we have urged her to take up a position which is not really conducive to her own best interests. "Consult your French colleague" should be our order to our Minister in Morocco, and in Paris our Am- bassador should make the French Government feel that though we by no means desire the adoption of an uncom- promising attitude, we may be depended on if unhappily need should arise. We do not doubt that this is the position which Lord Lansdowne has in fact taken up, and that it has the approval of the nation as a whole. The two things we will not do are (1) to get France into unnecessary trouble over any matter which she decides is not of the first moment, and (2) to desert her if she is subjected to an unprovoked attack.
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